Kaivalya

Saint Tyagaraja is very well known to all Carnatic Music Lovers.Telugu enthusiasts especially and to some extent some of Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada folks are acquinted with the beautiful Telugu compositions of this prodigal music composer of the 17th Century. And when it is rendered by Smt M S Subbalakshmi, there is an extra bit of magic associated with the songs. I bought a 3-CD set of MS amma rendered Tyagaraja compositions called the "Gems of Tyagaraja".I have bought the entire set for one song, "Nagumomu Kanaleni", a divine composition in the Abheri raga. It is astounding and I kept playing the song in my car from office to home and back, which was about 5 mins in duration. Recently I started listening to others as well, since back in India, travel time increased manifold (from 5 mins in US to about 90 mins here!!). I discovered some even more amazingly divine songs, two of which are: 1) Ninnu Vina Naa Madendu (in Navarasa Kanada raga) and 2) Venu Gana Loluni ...

సీ. కుప్పించి యెగసిన కుండలంబుల కాంతి, గగన భాగం బెల్లఁ గప్పికొనఁగ నుఱికిన నోర్వక యుదరంబులో నున్న, జగముల వ్రేఁగున జగతి గదలఁ జక్రంబుఁ జేపట్టి చనుదెంచు రయమునఁ , బై నున్న పచ్చని పటము జాఱ నమ్మితి నా లావు నగుబాటు సేయక, మన్నింపుమని కిరీటి మఱలఁ దిగువఁ తే.గీ.గరికి లంఘించు సింహంబు కరణి మెఱసి, నేఁడు భీష్మునిఁ జంపుదు నిన్నుఁ గాఁతు విడువు మర్జున ! యంచు మద్విశిఖ వృష్టిఁ , దెరలి చనుదెంచు దేవుండు దిక్కు నాకు. (2-221) The above is a part of the Bhagavatam written by Bammera Pothana in Telugu. This has become a favorite of mine since the time I first heard it, from a 1962 Telugu Movie called "Bheeshma", sung by Ghantasala.Context: This comes with a backdrop of On-Going war between Kauravas and Pandavas in Mahabharatha. While Bheeshma is compelled to take sides with Kauravas, the Bhagawan (Krishna) supports Pandavas. And since His might could not be compared with anyone in the battlefield, Krishna promises to only participate as the charioteer for Arjuna, and by Himself would not touch a weapon!...

On my last post, regarding the lecture on Marx, Gandhi and Social Transformation by Prof. J.V.R. Rao, a friend had asked to deliberate on the point observed on Gandhi being a "philosophical anarchist". Although the Professor did go about explaining related to this, I thought I would rather do my own research and present in this post my learnings on this topic. To begin with, let us look at some back-ground of the concept of "Philosophical Anarchy". Let's try to understand what exactly anarchy stands for: most of us have the opinion that "anarchy" is a state of lawlessness, absence of government and political disorder. It is quite true and generally accepted. However, the political movement of "anarchism" does not see this as a pejorative term. According to the Oxford dictionary (as per the Wikipedia), there is yet another definition of anarchy: "A theoretical social state in which there is no governing person or body of persons, but each...

Today, at the Kakatiya University, there was an Endowment Lecture , a tribute to my late grandfather Sri Pamulaparthy Sadasiva Rao garu. The guest presiding over this year (this being the 3rd yr) of the occasion was Prof. J V Raghavendra Rao (Prof of Sociology), Professor Emeritus of Osmania University. The speech consisted of 3 sections, 1) On Marx as a revolutionary social transformer, 2) On Gandhi as a reformatory social transformer and 3) A critical analysis of today's relevance of Gandhi(ians) and (ism). Speaking on relevance of Marx's theory in present day, Prof Rao quoted examples of Cuba (where there is no unemployement and illiteracy!!!) and Venezuela (improved employment and reduction in poverty in last 2 years) as s0me examples where there has been remarkable application of the "humanistic" principles of the anti-burgeose (read anti-capitalist). On Gandhi, while speaking at it, an interesting and a new point was noted by Prof. Rao on the concept of Satyag...

I walk alone In the streets of loneliness; My mind is empty now, Except the memories of you, my love! I wonder if you're happy now, Without me standing in your way! Would you rather care, If we meet across the road one day!! I don't even know what you call, That, what happened between us! Could not have been the same, Which, would be common among friends!! I walk alone In the darkest hour of night; Thinking of you often, Seeing a lone star fall from the sky!! In the days of brighter sunshines, In the middle of a hot desert, I die and become born again, I suffer the pain, and feel the constant hurt!! On evenings of twisted moonlights My tortured soul turns so restless! I sit by the lake and stare at the ripples, And I smile at my own foolishness!! I walk alone In the jungle no one's walked before; Searching for the most precious thing I lost, Which I could not hold in my hands!! Sometimes I thought you were a dream, Sometimes I fought with my own self! But I know that you we...

నీవు - జగములనేలే పరమాత్ముడవు జన్మనెత్తిన పురుషోత్తముడవు గోవుల గాచిన గోవిందుడవు గోపిక వలచిన గోపాలుడవు శాంత రూపుడవు నారాయాణుడవు ఉగ్ర రూపుడవు నారసింహుడవు గీతనుపలికిన శ్రీ కృష్ణుడవు; నిన్నే నమ్మిన ధ్రువుడను నేను పసివాడను నే ప్రహ్లాదుడను కుచేలుడి వంటి బీద వాడను నీకై వేచే శభరి ని నేను! నీ నామములు నే విని పులకిస్తూ, నీ దివ్య రూపములు నే తిలకిస్తూ, నా మది నిండుగ నిన్నే నింపిన నా తలిదండ్రుల, గురువుల తలుస్తూ ; నా భవహరమును కావగ నాకై భాగవత కావ్యంబు రచించిన కవిగురు పరమ భక్త పోతనకు నిత్యం నివాళులు అర్పణచేస్తూ : భాద్రపద బహుల అష్టమి దినమున ధర్మపాలన చేయగ దివిపై అవతరించిన అచ్యుత నీకిదే నా హృది పలికిన మంగళహారతి! -సిధ్ధార్థా పాములపర్తి janmaashtami, 2008

గణపతి దేవుడి పట్టపుటేనుగు మదమెక్కి కదనరంగమున కదంతొక్కింది రాణి రుద్రమ వీరఖడ్గము ధగధగ మెరిసి భగభగ మండింది బమ్మెర పోతన భాగవతంబు అభ్యుదయంతో ఏకీభవించింది భధ్రకాలీ,పద్మాక్షమ్మా,గోవిందరాజులు కొండంత ధైర్యము గుండెలనిండా నింపిరి! కోటలు నిలిపిన సంగ్రామాలకు కాంతులు జల్లిన సాహిత్యాలకు కానుపు పోసిన కన్నతల్లి కాకతీయుల కంటి వెలుగు, నా ఓరుగల్లు నగారా మోగింది! విప్లవాలకు, ఉద్యమాలకు ఊపిరి పోసిన ఊరు ఇదేలే! సాంఘిక, పౌరాణిక చరిత్ర ల సాక్షిగ నిలిచిన గడ్డ ఇదేలే! జానపదాలను జ్ఞానపదానికి నిండుగ చేర్చిన నగరమిదేలే ! విద్యారణ్యుని విజ్ఞాన ధనాన్ని విప్రుల కొసగిన వేదికిదేలే! బతుకమ్మ, బోనాల పండుగల, సమ్మక్క సారక్క జాతరల, ప్రజల ప్రభంజన ప్రచండముగ ప్రపంచమంతా వినిపిస్తుండగ నా ఓరుగల్లు నగారా మోగింది! -సిధ్ధార్థా పాములపర్తి ఆగష్టు ౧౮, ౨౦౦౮.

I wake up from my deep slumber With your memories in my dreams; I bathe myself in the holy Ganga Where it flows through your heart. I saunter through dark wilderness, Carrying the torch of your wisdom; I sing to the World nay, to Universe Of your great pride and fortitude! I speak the noble, humble tongue That from your womb was begot I pass my life through days and nights And seasons from Winter through Fall- Every moment, inside my heart, It is your name that I always call; Like the peaks of Himalayas that stand High on the ground and touch the sky, With overwhelming and boundless joy For your mighty grand honor, I cry: Mother Nation, Bhaarath, to you today To millions of my brothers too With all my love I proudly say Happy Independence to you! Happy Independence to you!! Jai Hind! Vande Mataram!! -Siddartha Pamulaparty August 15th, 2008

All Sketches drawn by me on 08 and 09 August 2008. -Siddartha Pamulaparty

BLINDNESS Neither time nor eternity Can heal these pains I suffer today; Nor can the pious winds take away These fears deep inside myself! Pouring rains or flooding rivers Cannot put off this burning fire- In my lone heart , broken to shards By constant torture of evil thoughts. VISION My brow is smeared with holy dust My arms hold my offerings to you My eyes, fixed on your smiling lips My heart chanting your thousand names. Awakening in my deepest thoughts, Is your vision over the horizon: Like million suns rising up at once From far across the deep oceans. Siddartha Pamulaparty Aug 06, 2008.

God knows I tried my best to learn the ways of this world, even had inklings we could be glorious; but after all that's happened, the inkles ain't easy anymore. I mean - what kind of fucken life is this? The above lines are from the first page of the book "Vernon God Little" by DBC Pierre (real name Peter Fineley). The book won the Man Booker Prize for the year 2003. The "DBC" in Mr Fineley's pen-name stands for DIRTY BUT CLEAN. Well, I read it about 4 years ago, then why am I posting this now? Well, definitely not a review of the book. Just that I got the same feeling which I got several times before, looking at the life "at-work". You can say it is a kind of frustration and possibly because of stress. Not physical. I would prefer to call it psychological stress rather than "mental" stress, if only there is a difference between the two words, the way I perceive it. Mental stress, is common in almost every walk of human life. This par...

నిండు వెన్నెల కుండపోతగా కురిపిస్తాడు మురిపిస్తాడు తామర పూవుల రెక్కలనన్ని తెరిపిస్తాడు మెరిపిస్తాడు నిషాచరులను శశీకిరణముల తడిపిస్తాడు నడిపిస్తాడు కైలాసంలో కాన్తులనెన్నో ఛల్లిస్తాడు ఝల్లిస్తాడు ప్రభాకరుని ప్రతిబింబంబై వెలుగిస్తాడు గెలుపిస్తాడు అవనిఘర్భమున అన్యాయాల పనిచూస్తాడు అణిచేస్తాడు చుక్కలనన్ని చక్కగచేర్చి లాలిస్తాడు పాలిస్తాడు ఆదిశక్తియే ఆతని అమ్మగ తిలకిస్తాడు పులకిస్తాడు... చిన్నపిల్లలకు చందమామయై, యువతకు తమ తమ ప్రేయసిప్రియుడై, గృహిణిగృహులకు అనుకూల గ్రహంబై... అన్నీ యెరిగిన పెద్దవారలకు అద్వైతము తానై వేదాంతసారముల వెలుగిస్తాడు పలుకిస్తాడు... సిధ్ధార్థా పాములపర్తి జూలై ౧౯, ౨౦౦౮

అలిగిన జాబిల్లి నేడు ఆకసంలో కానరాడు కర్పూరం కరిగినట్లు కడకు మాయమైనాడు.... సదాశివుని శిఖములోన చిక్కి బంధీ ఐనాడో? కలువపూల కౌగిలిలో బిగిసి శ్వాస విడిచినాడో? మబ్బుల రథములుయెక్కి మరి దారి తప్పిపోయినాడో? లేక మధుపానీయంబు తాగి మత్తులలో మునిగినాడో? ఆ రవి ఆరని మంటల కాహుతేమో ఐనాడో? ఈ భువిపై అక్రమాలకోర్వక ముఖముతిప్పి మాడ్చినాడో? తారకలెన్నొ ఉన్నా తాను మాత్రమొంటరియై తల్లి లేని పిల్లవాడినని తలచి బెంగపడ్డాడో? అలిగిన జాబిల్లి నేడు ఆకసంలో కానరాడు కర్పూరం కరిగినట్లు కడకు మాయమైనాడు...... సిద్దార్థా పాములపర్తి జూలై ౧౧, ౨౦౦౮

Some inspiring and interesting lyrics from various songs of Bob Dylan: Bob dylan's lines: 1) You don't understand it - my feelings for you Well, you'd be honest with me if only you knew (Honest with me) 2) But if you got to go, It's all right. But if you got to go, go now, Or else you gotta stay all night. 3) I'll remember you When I've forgotten all the rest, You to me were true, You to me were the best. When there is no more, You cut to the core Quicker than anyone I knew. When I'm all alone In the great unknown, I'll remember you. I'll remember you At the end of the trail, I had so much left to do, I had so little time to fail. There's some people that You don't forget, Even though you've only seen'm One time or two. When the roses fade And I'm in the shade, I'll remember you. Didn't I, didn't I try to love you? Didn't I, didn't I try to care? Didn't I sleep, didn't I weep beside you With the rain bl...

I was skimming through a Telugu book on the "Sri Narasimha Shatakam", orginally claimed to be written by Sri Seshappa Kavi with commentary by Vidwan, Kasireddy Venkatapathi Reddy. (First published in 2001 December by Sri Paavani Seva Samithi, Hyderabad). In the Preface, I found something very interesting and thought of just posting it to my blog, with needful translation of Mr.Reddy's original words in Telugu. Here it goes: "nrusimhaa raamakrishneShu Shaadgunyam paripooritham", this Sanskrit phase means that: Narasimha avatara (the lion-faced incarnation of Vishnu) has the quality of "opulence" (aishwaryamu), Rama has the quality of opulence plus "pleasantness" (maadhuryamu) and Krishna combines the qualities of opulence, pleasantness along with "vigor or prowess" (veeryamu). Thus these qualities have become a completeness through these three avataras. In Telugu, there were 3 "shataka"s (a collection of hundred poems) dedi...

There would not be a single Telugu who has not read about or atleast heard about the great King of the Kakatiyas..Rudrama Devi (intentionally called a King). She ruled the Kingdom of the Kakatiyas, basing Warangal as the capital between 1261 AD to 1289 AD. Here are some interesting pieces from the Kakatiya History: 1) Ganapathi Deva Maharaju (1199-1261 AD), one of the most key Kakatiya rulers, gave a masculine name to his daughter Rudrama Devi, calling her "Rudra Deva", owing to her impeccable administrative abilities in performing royal duty. She was a revolutionary ruler. She wore her attire in a manner that resembled a man and sat on the throne during her rule. She encourgaed foreign visitors and messengers to visit the kingdom. (And this is when Marco Polo had visited this part of the country, on his way to China from Venice). In times of need, she took up the sword and fought in the battle-fields. 2) When Ganapathi Deva anticipated his last days, his heir was none other ...

Wanders my soul, wanders alone.. Wanders inside those woods of darkness: Musing about the candid songs- Of the mysterious birds with long tails; Dancing to the tunes of sweet melodies- Of the flute played by the lazy shepherd Who lay beneath the graceful fig tree.. Wanders my soul, dancing again. Wanders my soul, wanders again.. In the fragrant orchid, infinitely stretched With blossomed roses, colored crimson red; (As if a dream were suddenly realized, While my body still rests in the daisy-decor) Expanding thoroughly in all dimensions of space And time, as often, no limit from now. Wanders my soul, expanding again... Wanders my soul, wanders, being sane.. Away from the realms of this material globe, Aloof of this flowing en masse of insolent attitudes; Flying in the sky-lines of tranquil beatitudes, Among the stars and the huge heavenly spheres, Suspended in the vast universe of unknown birth; Searching the Ultimate Source of Cosmic rays- Wanders my soul! Here goes it, being sane! ...

My friend Karun, in college, asked me once to write a song so that he can sing it in the Church. I wrote one, but somehow he didn't sing it though. Incidentally I wrote the song on his birthday 13 April. Here it goes: Watch the birds in the sky flying freely, Look at the fish, swimming happily, The black clouds before raining heavily, They all ask us questions frequently... Why do you have to bear the pains? Are you all tied up with iron chains? Why do you have to pray for the rains? Can't you wipe off your blood filled stains? Is there no love in your world of humans? Is not compassion one of your feelings? Don't you get the joy from the beautiful seasons? Can't you live without asking for reasons? Learn from us and try to practice, Love is compassion and Love is the peace, Love is the question and Love is the answer, Let Love grow in you, not the dreadful cancer. Love is all seasons and Love needs no reasons, Love is a feeling, which does the healing, Love is the forc...

G H Hardy Srinivasa Ramanujan I came across this anecdote from G H Hardy, the great English Mathematician, from the book: "Pi in the Sky: Counting, Thinking and Being", a book on the history of Mathematics by John D Barrow, a Professor at Univ of Sussex: "I remember once going to see him when he was lying ill at Putney. I had ridden in a taxi-cab No. 1729, and remarked that the number seemed to me a dull one, and that I hoped it was not an unfavourable omen. 'No,' he replied, 'it is a very interesting number; it is the smallest number expressible as a sum of two cubes in two different ways." - G. H. Hardy on Ramanujan. Here is a full blown article on the number 1729 which came to be known as the Hardy-Ramanujan number on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1729_(number ) God that's amazing!! -Siddartha Pamulaparty June 14, 2008

I was reading through some of the poems at random from the "Leaves of Grass" and wanted to capture them again , for getting inspired everytime I come back to my friend, my blog!! LIFE AND DEATH: The two old, simple problems ever intertwined, Close home, elusive, present, baffled, grappled. By each successive age insoluble, pass'd on, To ours to-day- and we pass on the same. THANKS IN OLD AGE: Thanks, in old age- thanks ere I go, For health, the midday sun, the impalpable air- for life, mere life, For precious ever-lingering memories, (of you my mother dear- you, father- you, brothers, sisters, friends,) For all my days- not those of peace alone- the days of war the same, For gentle words, caresses, gifts from foreign lands, For shelter, wine and meat- for sweet appreciation, (You distant, dim unknown- or young or old-countless, unspecified readers belov'd, We never met, and ne'er shall meet- and yet our souls embrace, long, close and loving;) For beings, groups, l...

Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao needs no introduction to any of the Telugus born or brought up in the state of Andhra Pradesh. His contributions to the literature and cultural departments of the Telugus on the whole and the Telangana as well, is immeasurable. There was a non-detail book in Telugu in the APSSC syllabus during the 9th class or 10th class: "gurudevudu raveendrudu" on the life and works of Rabindranath Tagore, written by Ramanuja Rao. I was just browing through the internet and found a book called: "Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao: Oka Rekha Chitram" (Roughly: A life-line of Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao (A brief sketch)) written by Sri T. Sri Ranga Swamy published around in 1991. In this book I found a poem, which is an extract from Ramanuja Rao's essay "మా ఊరు ఓరుగల్లు" , from the book he wrote called "పచ్చ తోరణం" in which he wrote about the glory of the once capital of the Kakatiya's the city of Warangal. Warangal has more to its historical ...

Inspired by the painting called: "Shakuntala Patralekhana" by Raja Ravi Varma (image above), at the Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, Mysore in 2002, this is what I wrote with my pen on a PostCard of the same painting: Even the heart of a lion would think twice- to dare to snatch away the dreams from those eyes! How tender the words that drop from the pen held by your delicate hands would be; I wish I was the one addressed to in those words, even if it were in a language unknown to me!! -Siddartha Pamulaparty Jan 15, 2002

This is a poem I wrote after the Industrial Tour-2002. It speaks for itself of the great bonds we formed with our friends during the 5-6 days we were on the tour. The month of January, two thousand two, This marvelous it would be- I never knew; With the awake of new joy in our hearts that are young, Our lips are filled with a new cheer and have begun to sing. Those evanescent turmoils and those blisses forever, All kinds of emotions, in our memories, are together! The month of January, two thousand two, This splendid it would be- I never knew; Strangers became friends and friends became life, Those golden moments, for us, had all the world's time A part of our dreams have now become true, The rest of them, for our future, are in due!! Immortal are the bonds that we've woven with affection, We'll pray that our relations progress to more perfection. With the benediction from the Divine Abode above in the sky, Let us continue to be a family as the endless time passes by! -Sid...

Last Saturday (May 17), I drove out in a jiffy to the Walmart on the Algonquin Rd. I parked the car and rushed into the store. Went straight to the Audio CDs section. Browsed through the wrong corner in the Rock section. Suddenly realized the new releases could be on the other side. There I found it, the CD I wanted 4 days ago when it got released (May 13) but could not due to other obligations. Bryan Adams has released his new album after 4 years. And this one, called "11", like the last one "Room Service" has been recorded during the time of his concerts, backstage and in hotels. Usually as a big Bryan Adams fan, here are the top 3 best things I like about his songs: 3. acoustic and electric solo guitars (both BA and Keith Scott's) 2. vocals of BA...divine. 1. lyrics. Well, there is a specific pattern in the lyrics of all BA songs, they are so meaningful. I have always found the BA songs so close to heart, simple, easy, and in some way magical. When "Room...

శా. అమ్మా! మన్ను దినంగ నే శిశువునో యా కొంటినో వెఱ్రినో నమ్మంజూడకు వీరిమాటలు మదిన్ నన్నీవు కొట్టంగ వీ రిమ్మార్గమ్ము ఘటించి చెప్పెదరు కాదేనిన్ మదీయాస్యగం ధమ్మఘ్రా ణము సేసి నావచనముల్ దప్పైన దండింపవే. క. ఆలలితాంగి కనుంగొనె బాలునిముఖమందు జలధిపర్వతవనభూ గోళశిఖితరణిశశిదిక్పాలాదికరండమైన బ్రహ్మాండంబున్. మ. కలయో వైష్ణవమాయయో యితరసంకల్పార్ధమో సత్యమో తలపన్ నేరక యున్నదాననొ యశొదాదేవిఁగానో పర స్థలమో బాలకుఁడెంత యీతనిముఖస్థంబై యజాండంబు ప్ర జ్వలమై యుండుట కేమిహేతువొ మహాశ్చర్యంబు చింతింపఁగన్. The context here is another "leela" of the beloved Krishna, the most favorite of the 10 avatarams in the Bhagavatham, that He shows His foster mother Yashodha Devi, the entire Cosmic Universe within His mouth, thus providing her the "gyana" about the Universe!! Now, here are three different types of Telugu padyams by grammar and metre (chandassu) and how lovely they are!! In the first one, a "Shaardoola vikreeditham", young Krishna is speaking...

శ్రీ కృష్ణుడు గోవర్ధన పర్వతమును ఎత్తుట: క. కిరియై ధర యెత్తినహరి కరి సరసిజముకుళ మెత్తుగతి( ద్రిభువనశం కరకరు ( డై గోవర్ధన గిరి యెత్తెం జక్కనొక్కకేలన్ లీలన్. వెనకటికి వరాహావతరంలో ధరిత్రి ని ఎత్తి పట్టుకున్న ఆ హరి, ఒక ఏనుగు తామరపువ్వు ను ఎత్తినంత సునాయాసముగా, ముల్లోకాలకు పరమేశ్వరుడై, ఆ గోవర్ధన పర్వతమును చక్కగా ఒక్క చేతీతో లేవనేత్తినాడు !! This is a poem from Pothana's Bhagavatham again: In this, the context is Lord Krishna, lifting the Govardhana Mountain, during a big storm in the town. He protects all the people and cattle in the village by creating an umbrella with a huge mountain!! The meaning of this is: "The Lord Hari (one of the names of Krishna), who in His previous avatara as the Hog, (Varahavatara, 3rd in the Dasavatara's), carried the Earth, (presently also), with an equal ease of an Elephant lifting up a lotus bud, in the form of the Master and Lord of the three worlds, lifted up the Govardhana Mountain, easily and skillfully with a single hand! " Lovely poem....

I recently got the movie I wanted to see for a long time now: "Dead Poets Society". The movie stars Robin Williams as the English teacher John Keating in a high school, of which he was also a student once. While the essence of the movie is "Carpe Diem!!" a Latin phrase for "Sieze the day", and as the teacher Keating further says.."Make your lives extra-ordinary", the movie gives you more than that. Message to young, do only that what you LOVE the most. Message on the pedagogy, FREEDOM (as in THINKING for one's self) is more important than DISCIPLINE (as in being dogmatic) while educating the "growing minds". Message to the parents, don't DEMAND your children to DREAM your DREAMS. But don't you worry, it is not that a serious movie, there's a lot of fun there too. I bet you'll remember your high-school or college days too!! The other characters of the students are also very interesting and all the actors have done ver...

శా. కారే రాజులు రాజ్యముల్ గలుగవే గర్వోన్నతిం బొందరే వారేరీ సిరి మూటగట్టుకొని పోవంజాలిరే భూమిపైఁ బేరైనం గలదే శిబిప్రముఖులుం బ్రీతిన్ యశఃకాములై యీరే కోర్కులు వారలన్ మఱచిరే యిక్కాలమున్ భార్గవా! shA. kArE rAjulu rAjyamul galugavE garvOnnathiM boMdharE vArEree siri mootagattukoni pOvaMjAlirE bhoomipaiAO bErainM galadhE shibipramukhuluM breethin yashaHkAmulai yeerE kOrkulu vAralan maRachirE yikkAlamun bhArgavA! Context: This is a poem in the “ashtama skandam” of the Pothana’s Bhagavatham, where in the story of the Maha Vishnu in His “Vamana” avatara is told. Vamana goes to the great demon king Bali and asks him for three feet of space, as Bali is doing a great penance and is giving alms/charity to those who seek. Then, the intelligent guru of Bali, Shukracharya, warns Bali not to promise anything to this young Brahmin Vamana, as “He is none other than the great Vishnu, and He will destroy you if you give Him whatever He asks”. In reply, Bali, who is known for his great charitable nature, say...

Harihi Om!! In the 10th Chapter of Bhagavad Gita, Krishna speaks to Arjuna about how He, as various forms in various beings or objects is spread everywhere and is the origin of every being living or non-living. As I understand, the nature of Vishnu, being all-pervasive and the basic essence of everything, is being explained with extensive examples in this chapter. (I refer to the copy of SriBhagavadgita, (Sanskrit/Telugu) published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur for most of the meaning of the Sanskrit slokas in Telugu) This seems to be in line with my notes I wrote based on my understanding of Chapter 7 on this blog. ( http://freedomformind.blogspot.com/2007/12/notes-from-bhagavad-gita-chapter-7.html ) The 10th Chapter is also termed the “Vibuthiyoga”. Vibuthi may mean the “superhuman powers or faculties”. Sometimes in context of the Vibuthi powers, according to the yogic literature, are eight fold powers: Anima (ability to become small “minute”), Mahima (ability to grow huge, like the Vira...